We have gone through previous season stats, MLB draft potential, a players individual tools and overall ability to come up with the preseason top twenty-one players in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The school with the most players on the list with (4) is The University of Virginia, which is not a surprise. Following the Cavaliers up with the second most players on our list is The University of Miami with (3) and then Louisville, North Carolina, Florida State and Clemson are tied with (2) players each. Five teams combined to have (1) player on the list and those five teams are Duke, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, N.C. State and Virginia Tech.
Pitchers:
▪ Nathan Kirby, Virginia
There is absolutely no doubt who the no. 1 returning pitcher in the ACC in 2015 is. It’s the ACC Co-Pitcher of the Year, First Team All-American by ABCA, Baseball America, Louisville Slugger and NCBWA Second Team All-American Nathan Kirby. In 113.1 IP he went 9-3 with a 2.06 ERA and 112 strikeouts during the Cavs College World Series runner up season. The Golden Spikes Award preseason finalist hasn’t been released yet but you can bank on Kirby being on that prestigious list of baseball players when it is released in February.
▪ Kyle Funkhouser, Louisville
He helped Louisville reach the College World Series by tying for the NCAA Division 1 lead with 13 victories, then was the ace for Team USA where he recorded 36 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings while posting a 1.27 ERA. Following Team USA’s season, Baseball America and Jim Callis chose Funkhouser as the USA Collegiate National Team’s top professional prospect. During the Cardinals 2014 campaign Funkhouser posted a 1.94 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 120.1 innings pitched during an All-American season as the Cardinals’ ace.
▪ Michael Matuella, Duke
There is never any doubt that the ACC is full of top prospects every year. That is going to be the case this year as well, when MLB.com released their mock draft earlier this month they have the 6-7 junior from Duke as the no. 2 pick in the upcoming 2015 MLB player draft. The risks that are associated with Matuella are obviously concerning (spondylolysis) but he underwent surgery and is healed now and has been working harder then ever. Matuella can overpower hitters with his 93-97 mph fastball and make them look bad with his curveball and slider not to mention he has a pretty good feel for his change piece and isn’t afraid to throw it in unpleasant situations. All the upside to Matuella is enough to have the experts over at MLB.com picking him at no. 2 even with his medical history.
▪ Trent Thornton, UNC
After a season that ended in a Freshmen All-American selection in 2013, Trent Thornton was expected to be a bonafide ace for the Tar Heels in 2014. In 2013 Thornton went 12-1 with a 1.37 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 91.2 innings pitched. The following season Thornton went 7-4 with a 2.72 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 95.2 innings pitched. Obviously he was not the pitcher he was as a freshmen but he still recorded 80 plus strikeouts for the second consecutive year and lead to a second team ACC All-Conference selection. This season Thornton is expected to have a promising season and help his North Carolina team reach the College World Series as well as help his own draft stock.
▪ Brandon Waddell, Virginia
Waddell was 10-3 last season with a 2.45 ERA with 73 strikeouts in 114 innings pitched as the no. 2 pitcher on the University of Virginia baseball team. Waddell, a 6-3, 180 pound left handed pitcher from Houston, Texas totes three pitches that he can command as well as anybody in the country. He has a fastball that sits in the mid-90’s, and a big sweeping curveball that keeps hitters off balance. Waddell received a third-team All-ACC selection last season and according to Perfect Game is a preseason first-team All-ACC selection in 2015.
▪ Bryan Garcia, Miami
The University of Miami’s Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) All-American third-team, 2014 All-ACC second team and Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game 2015 preseason All-American is the lone relief pitcher on the list of College Baseball Daily’s Top ACC Players in 2015. Bryan Garcia recorded 15 saves for the Canes last season while posting a 1.75 ERA with 56 strikeouts and just 19 walks in 51.1 innings pitched. Garcia was just a freshmen last season and accomplished so much, the Dade county native is looking to improve and has been working hard for Head Coach Jim Morris and looks to not only bring exceptional pitching but leadership to the nationally ranked (no. 9) Miami Hurricanes.
Outfield:
▪ D.J. Stewart, Florida State
The 2014 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore led the league in all three slash stats at .351/.472/.557. He knocked in 50 runners, hit 19 doubles, smacked 7 home runs and walked 40 times. Stewart was an All-American, All-ACC and Golden Spikes Semifinalist, Midseason & Preseason Watch List member. Stewart has quick hands and has the potential to hit for average and power in professional baseball. He also was a member of the Collegiate USA Team over the summer.
▪ Chris Shaw, Boston College
As a sophomore in 2014 Shaw started all 55 games, and earned All-ACC honors, also named to the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association All-New England team and the American Baseball Coaches Association All-Northeast team. He batted .329, had 68 hits, 45 RBIs, 18 doubles, and 6 home runs. Collegiate Baseball has named the BC outfielder to Perfect Game USA’s Preseason All-American First Team and Louisville Slugger All-American Second Team.
▪ Steven Duggar, Clemson
In 2014 Duggar was an All-ACC third-team selection when he batted .294, with 45 runs 11 doubles, three triples, one homer, 36 RBI’s, 27 walks and 25 steals. Duggar played in the prestigious Cape Cod League this summer where he flaunted some of the best overall tools around. His most impressive and unteachable tool is his speed. Duggar ran a 6.26 second 60-yard dash during a showcase at Fenway Park. Perhaps his second best tool is his arm strength. Duggar played his first two years at Clemson in RF but has great range and is perfectly capable of playing CF. Duggar was tabbed as the 45th player overall to be selected in a mock draft at MLB.com. The Clemson outfielder is a 2015 Preseason third-team All-American selection according to Perfect Game.
Third Base:
▪ Andrew Knizner, N.C. State,
Andrew Knizner might just be the model for collegiate baseball perfection. Aside from being a 2015 Perfect Game Preseason All-American first-teamer, Knizner was a 2014 ACC Academic Honor Roll member and a Freshmen All-American first-teamer. Knizner had huge shoes to fill when he entered the 2014 season in replacing the first round draft-pick, Trea Turner. Knizner succeeded greatly for the Wolfpack and in doing so batted .330 with 69 hits, 47 RBIs, 11 doubles, one triple, and four homers. Knizner is only a sophomore and isn’t eligible for the MLB player draft until 2016 but bet on him being a first rounder when the time comes.
▪ Matt Gonzalez, Georgia Tech
The 2013 TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby runner up, 2014 Second Team All-ACC selection and the Yellow Jackets best hitter Matt Gonzalez is sure to be a major player in the ACC in 2015. Gonzalez batted .314, had 80 hits, 21 doubles, and 37 RBIs, which was among the ACC leaders. In addition to Gonzalez’s bat the junior has an above average arm that is great from third base and also can be used in the outfield. Gonzalez finished fourth nationally with nine outfield assists and has been clocked in the 90’s from the outfield.
▪ Will Craig, Wake Forest
Will Craig was one of the ACC’s standout freshman players in 2014. Craig was a member of the 2014 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team and can chuck it on the bump pretty well. Craig batted .280 while collecting 53 hits, 21 runs, six doubles and eight home runs which among the conference leaders. On the mound the 230- pound sophomore threw 13.1 innings while recording seven strikeouts and a 4.05 ERA.
Short Stop:
▪ Tyler Krieger, Clemson
The 2014 Brooks Wallace Shortstop-of-the-Year Award Watch List member, second –team All-ACC selection, All-ACC Academic selection and ACC Academic Honor Roll member batted .338 with 49 runs, 18 doubles, two homers, 32 RBIs, 25 walks and only 24 strikeouts in 2014. Krieger was the starting SS last season for the Tigers but suffered an injury that relegated him to the DH role. This season assuming Krieger is 100% healthy he will be the starting short stop for the Clemson Tigers where he will look to capitalize on a great sophomore year and try to get Clemson back to the College World Series.
▪ Daniel Pinero, Virginia
After Daniel Pinero, the 20th round selection by the Houston Astros in the 2013 MLB Players Draft decided not to sign a professional contract and opted for the college ranks some folks around the league were skeptical. Pinero proved them all wrong; while he only batted .261 in 68 games played he recorded 63 hits, 6 doubles, 22 RBI’s, and walked 36 times. The Toronto, Ontario native was a third-team All-ACC honoree at SS, a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball and was also named to the All-ACC Academic Baseball Team in his first year of American baseball. Pinero started as a freshman on a team that made the CWS title game and was a main player on the team. The ACC has a SS that should be a very familiar name and top prospect in a few years.
▪ Wood Meyers, North Carolina
While Wood Myers is back to headline a North Carolina lineup that saw itself barely make ACC postseason play in 2014, he brings his .298 battings average, 65 hits, 10 doubles and 29 RBIs to the 2015 campaign. If the Tar Heels hope to make it to Omaha, Ne. this season, Myers is going to have to remain a prominent player in the North Carolina offense. Myers best asset may be his speed where he has been clocked at 6.64 in the 60-yard dash. His versatility is another factor that will attract scouts to Chapel Hill, N.C. this spring. He s a middle infielder for the Tar Heels but at the next level could play the outfield because of his speed and range.
Second Base:
▪ Nick Solak, Louisville
The sophomore from Woodridge, Illinois batted .351 with two home runs, 25 RBIs, 29 runs scored and nine stolen bases in 26 starts and 47 games played for the Cardinals in 2014. Solak looks to build off of a great second half in 2014 where Solak started more and more games and went into the postseason as one of the teams top hitters. Not only does Solak posses a good bat but also he can play defense and run. His speed is perhaps one of his best tools and look for his stolen base number (9) to go up in 2015. Solak is definitely a promising young talent and could be among the ACC leaders in batting average and stolen bases this season.
▪ John La Prise, Virginia
Yes, John La Prise started the majority of the season at third base and as a DH but this is 2015 and here at College Baseball Daily we feel John will play more at second base this season. The Exton, Pennsylvania native batted an impressive .348 in 178 at bats in 2014. He recorded 62 hits, 10 doubles, one home run and 17 RBIs to compliment that .348 average. His hot bat continued into the summer where he absolutely destroyed the Northwoods League (a prominent summer baseball league) pitching. La Prise was a recipient of the 2013 Rawlings “Big Stick” Award, which is given to the hitter those posses the best batting average at their respective position. La Prise lead the Northwoods League in hitting with an astonishing .407 batting average. He was also an All-Star and helped the Mallards to the Summer Collegiate World Series Championship.
First Base:
▪ Brendon Hayden, Virginia Tech
The utility infielder and designated hitter for the Hookies batted .301 with 60 hits, including a team-high 16 doubles and seven home runs. He also scored 35 runs and knocked in 43 RBIs. In the NCAA, Hayden was ranked in 10 categories and in the ACC, was top 10 in five categories (at the end of the regular season). Hayden was named to the 2014 ABCA Rawlings All-Atlantic Region Second Team and the 2014 VaSID All-State Second Team, both as a DH. Hayden is a definite power threat at the next level and is versatile so pro teams can find a spot in the field for him.
▪ Chris Marconcini, Florida State
The former Duke Blue Devil and current Florida State Seminole batted .252 with 58 hits, 46 RBIs and 8 home runs in 2014. Marconcini earned an All-ACC second-team selection and should be a solid middle of the order bat for the Florida State offense in 2015.
▪ David Thompson, Miami
The 2013 Freshman All-America second team, 2013 Louisville Regional All-Tournament Team, 2013 Rookie of the Year Award winner and 2013 Home Run Champion is healthy and back for the 2015 Hurricanes. Thompson looks to come back as strong as he was in his freshman campaign for the Canes. Before Thompson was diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in 2014 he was batting .278 with six doubles and 15 RBIs. Look for Thompson to bounce back stronger then ever this season and hit in behind the reigning Freshman of the Year, Zach Collins.
Catcher:
▪ Zach Collins, Miami
As a Freshman Collins was named the 2014 ACC Freshman of the Year, earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, picked up first-team All-America honors from Perfect Game and recognized as a third-team All-ACC member. In 2015, Collins was chosen as a preseason first-team All-American by Perfect Game and Louisville Slugger. Collins batted .298 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs – both team-high totals. He was ranked among the ACC leaders in nearly every category and called games from behind the plate for an All-American pitching staff. Collins is likely going to be a preseason member of the 2015 Golden Spikes Award and don’t be surprised if he is still there at the end of the season.
All-ACC Team
Pos. Name School
C Zach Collins Miami
1B Chris Marconcini Florida State
MIF Tyler Krieger Clemson
MIF John La Prise Virginia
3B Andrew Knizner N.C. State
OF D.J. Stewart Florida State
OF Chris Shaw Boston College
OF Steven Duggar Clemson
DH David Thompson Miami
UT Matt Gonzalez Georgia Tech
Pos. Name School
SP Nathan Kirby Virginia
SP Kyle Funkhouser Louisville
SP Trent Thornton North Carolina
RP Bryan Garcia Miami
